Buy or Sell New Teams for 4 NHL Prospects and Young Players Dealt at the 2026 Trade Deadline

It's the time of year when no one has a clue which player is on what team—and that's for long-time NHLers, not prospects and young, unestablished players. Fortunately for you, we're going to take a look at the latter. 

Who was traded? Was it a good decision? Asking these questions in the wake of the trade deadline is like shaking a Magic 8 Ball: answers may vary, especially when it comes to players under 25. Development environments play a huge role in how a player's career pans out, and sometimes a guy just needs to start fresh.

Which brings me to our first player.

Brennan Othmann, LW/RW, Calgary Flames from NYR

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Since I started at Bleacher Report, I have mentioned Brennan Othmann in no fewer than three (but probably more) articles about players who could or should be traded. Players who need a fresh start. I've basically been screaming "get him out of there" for two years now. And the Calgary Flames finally answered the call. 

Othmann, a winger who has thus far spent the majority of his career with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL, fills an immediate need for the Flames: forwards who are young and ready to step into the NHL. Othmann brings strong puck-protection skills, playing at a high speed and pace. He's got a pretty nice shot, too. He's the kind of player you want in your middle six each night to frustrate opponents.

Buy or Sell: Soft buy. I really need to see if he's going to rebound before I make a true call, but there's still so much potential there. I think a new environment with the Flames can refresh Othmann and bring out the player we've all expected to see.

Bobby Brink, RW, Minnesota Wild from PHI

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At 24 years old, Bobby Brink isn't really a prospect anymore, but we're talking about young guys, too, so we're leaving him in. I'm a big fan of Brink's game overall and thought he was a good fit for the Flyers. He's relentless, he's got excellent offensive instincts, and his puck skills are killer. His skating is never going to be his best asset, but he's got a killer first step and some really nice explosiveness.

The Flyers had too many wingers and saw the opportunity to fill a need. For the Wild, having Brink means having a forward who can play in the middle six and will reliably net 20-40 points per year, probably more (is my guess) if he gets thrown into higher stakes situations. He'll help you out at both ends of the ice, and his puck handling in tight areas is something to look out for.

Buy or Sell: Buy every day. Hometown boy is always a draw, and Brink has worked his tail off since he got to the NHL (and before, frankly) to earn and hold his spot. He's reliable as the day is long and reads the ice better than many players.

David Jiricek , D, Philadelphia Flyers from MIN

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This was David Jiricek's second time being traded since he was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets. You don't often see that happen to a player who was highly-touted in the lead-up to his draft, and one who hasn't even hit the 100-game mark in the NHL yet to boot. 

Don't let that sour you on Jiricek, but remain realistic. On paper, he is the coveted large, right-handed defenseman every team is looking for. His development path hasn't exactly been smooth, especially since he was traded to the Wild. There were always concerns about his skating, even before his 2022 knee injury, and his tendency to make defensive-zone turnovers at the NHL level isn't a great look. But there's still very real potential there, and you don't get better at minimizing those kinds of mistakes by playing sporadically.  If he gets consistent NHL time with the Flyers, that decision-making could get much better.

Buy or Sell: Sell until he proves to me otherwise. That said, I do think he can prove to me otherwise. It's not an "is he capable", it's a "will he do it?"

Isak Rosen, RW, Winnipeg Jets from BUF

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Forward Isak Rosen moved to the Winnipeg Jets in the trade that sent Luke Schenn and Logan Stanley to the Buffalo Sabres, and it's definitely a plus for both sides. I've been hoping for a Rosen trade for a minute, since it seemed like the Sabres weren't going to play him in the NHL full-time any time soon. The Jets weren't exactly my preferred destination for him, but they've definitely ended up with the best player as far as the long-term outlook goes.

Here's a quick rundown on what Jets fans can expect to see from Rosen, a right winger who was scoring at a better than point-per-game pace in the AHL this season (43 in 37). He's fast, his puck skills are elite, and he's got high-end hockey sense. Reading the unfolding play before his opponents can is a strong suit, and you'll probably see him on the power play before too long if the Jets keep him around full-time.

Buy or Sell: Buy for two reasons: Rosen has long since been ready to make his NHL debut, and this gives him the opportunity to showcase just why he feels he belongs in the league. And I hope he stays in the NHL, because the Jets are currently gunning for the New York Rangers' title as the league's worst development environment.

Second reason? This trade got Stanley off the Jets' roster. It would honestly be worth it for that alone; I cannot express how excruciating it has been to see pundits go to great lengths to justify the Stanley pick over the past eight years. I wish him a wonderful career in Buffalo.